[Mich-chat] YES [birders] Our backyard birds--different kind of summer

[Russell Emmons]

Yes, it has been a strange sort of summer here also. Much as Bob Pennock 
describes below.. Our Titmice have returned also but only the usual 2-4. 
Goldfinch have been the really most reliable visitor all year with at least 
about 10 a day. House Finches have returned in force with about 10-12 a day. 
Chickadees, WB Nuthatches always present, as have been Cowbirds,  Starlings 
(fewer of these now);  Red Wing Blackbirds; Grackles; with Blue Jays, 
Cardinals are plenty; Still being visited by a few Song Sparrows and 
Chipping Sparrows; an occasional Balt Oriole or 2; a pair of Kingbirds; or a 
few Rose Breasted Grosbeaks. Our Red-bellied Wdpckrs. and Downys are always 
consistent with about 4 to 6 each present daily.  Lo & Behold!-- earlier our 
Hairy Woodpecker pair has returned after being AWOL for about a year.Several 
Barn Swallows, Tree Swallows are  back now patrolling the new cut adjoining 
hayfields
   Plenty of Cedar Waxwings and Robins hitting our several fully laden 
Mulberry trees! A Pheasant or 2 regularly being heard in adjoining fields or 
hedgerows.

   Biggest highlight the past few days has been an EASTERN SCREECH OWL 
calling out in the back woods,  first of the season, likely post-breeding 
dispersal. This is about the time they start becoming active around here, 
Also was blessed at our pond with a BELTED KINGFISHER, 2 GREEN HERONS and an 
unusual GREAT BLUE HERON that not only feeded from our pond but walked 
unconcerned all around our and the neighbors lawn checking everything out.. 
It even walked over to our chicken yard/pen and went face to face through 
the fence with our Geese, Ducks, Chickens. We have 3 of those African Geese 
(about the size of a Mute Swan) and I wondered for a moment if that could 
have been a possible territorial confrontation! I understand Great Blue 
Herons do this on lawns, in fields looking for the small  frogs/toads and/or 
field mice and voles. Has any ever seen them get a mole from a tunnel or 
clump on a lawn? I suspect they will and do, opportunity permitting. I 'm 
thinking of posting a couple of very good pics of this Great Blue Heron even 
tho a rather common bird for Grove Street? Would have preferred getting 
great pics more so of course of the Kingfisher or Green Herons but it just 
didn't happen!

   Today (Saturday the 25th) would have been a better bird day as they 
seemed to be really moving around after the front went through. However 
cutting some grass on the riding mower as I past by the grandkids swing set 
I ran over a (unknown til now!)  Yellow Jacket nest in the ground. 
Whamo --they swarmed me, I got nailed at least 3 times! Ran in the house to 
get Benadryl tab and Benadryl cream, while applying such on me  one came out 
of a shirt cuff and nailed Syl on the cheek.  I'm hyperallergic to BeeWasp, 
Bug, mosquito bites, stings. Needless to say I became covered with hives, my 
lips tongue, throat started swelling so off we went to the ER where I spent 
most of the PM & evening hooked up to various, monitors, IVs!  humbug! Folks 
just a warning. You can never be too careful out and about birding or 
whatever. These things can be anywhere! So many people these days are 
developing hypersensitivity to so many things such as this!
  My concern now is if any of the wee grandkids would have been on the 
swingset I shudder to think the greif that could have caused!

Russ Emmons, Casco Twp. St. Clair county


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Pennock" <rhp3 at wowway.com>
To: <birders at umich.edu>
Sent: Saturday, July 25, 2009 5:00 PM
Subject: [birders] Our backyard birds--different kind of summer


> Well, after having goldfinches and siskins in large numbers this spring,
> they all disappeared some time ago.  We expected the siskins to leave, but
> the goldfinches usually stay all summer--and in good numbers.  Now we
> usually see only two goldfinches a week.  We changed food and feeders, but
> they just aren't around.  The housefinches vanished for awhile, too, but
> just returned this week.  We also usually have no shortage of bc
> chickadees in the summer.  They've been gone until two days ago.  Now we
> have many.
>
> The newest visitors are titmice.  There are tons of them!  We've seen
> maybe 2 in our yard in 7 years.  Today I saw about 10 at once near the
> feeders.  I'm guessing some just fledged and they are hungry!  We seem to
> have fewer hummers, too, although, for the last couple of days a pair have
> been spending a lot of time in the yard.  One perches a lot on either the
> clothes line or phone wire.  Red-bellies have also vanished as has the
> number of downies.  So rather than having steady numbers of the same
> birds, as we usually have, the usuals vacated for a long time and some are
> stating to return--along with some welcome new friends.  It's been a
> different summer bird-wise here in Plymouth.
>
> The Pennocks
>
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